Community Picks: Los Angeles Dodgers 0% vs San Francisco Giants 0%

Kenta Maeda took the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time Wednesday night and he sure got his big-league career off to a nice start. He also surprised with some pop at the plate. Maeda went six shutout innings in the Dodgers' 7-0 win over San Diego, allowing just five hits and striking out four. According to catcher A.J. Ellis , the 27-year-old right-hander did a good job mixing his slider, curveball and change-up with his fastball that comes in a tick over 90 mph and that he commands extremely well. [ Sign up for Fantasy Baseball  |  Play for $40K  |  Expert rankings  |  Mock draft ]  And for as well as he pitched, it was Maeda's fourth-inning home run off Andrew Cashner that really pumped some excitement into the game and garnered the best response from his teammates: WE HAD THE SAME REACTION, CLAYTON. pic.twitter.com/BCBmVc656r — Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) April 7, 2016 The Dodgers need someone from the pitching staff to step up following Zack Greinke's departure. Maeda signed with Los Angeles in the offseason after a stellar career in Japan. His first impression was a good one and the fact he appears to be able to handle himself with the bat as well is an added bonus. Now Maeda wasn't exactly facing the toughest lineup in the league – the Padres failed to score a run against Los Angeles over the entire three-game series  – but he did what he had to do and rose above the nerves he was experiencing to fashion a very memorable debut. [Elsewhere: Comedian Bill Maher isn't shy about his dislike for Bryce Harper ] It wasn't a perfect first start, though. Maeda recorded his first error when he made an error throw on a bunt play. At least that gives him something to work on as he looks ahead to his next scheduled start, which is the Dodgers' home opener April 12 against Greinke's Diamondbacks.  More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports: - - - - - - - Israel Fehr is a writer for Big League Stew  on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr Continue to Article

April 07, 2016 11:55:am EST

April 7 (Infostrada Sports) - Standings from the MLB on Wednesday AMERICAN LEAGUEEASTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. Baltimore 2 0 1.000 - 2. Tampa Bay 2 2 .500 1 3. Toronto 2 2 .500 1 4. Boston 1 1 .500 1 5. NY Yankees 1 1 .500 1 CENTRAL DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. Detroit 2 0 1.000 - 2. Chicago White Sox 2 1 .667 0 1/2 3. Cleveland 1 1 .500 1 4. Kansas City 1 1 .500 1 5. Minnesota 0 2 0 2 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. Seattle 2 1 .667 - 2. Houston 1 1 .500 0 1/2 3. Oakland 1 2 .333 1 4. Texas 1 2 .333 1 5. LA Angels 0 2 0 1 1/2 NATIONAL LEAGUEEASTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. Washington 2 0 1.000 - 2. ... Continue to Article

April 07, 2016 2:37:am EST

Mat Latos has plenty to prove after pitching for three teams a season ago. Once considered a pitcher on the rise with 14-win seasons in 2010, 2012 and 2013, Latos began last year with Miami before stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels. Latos had not posted an ERA worse than 3.48 in his previous four seasons, and his poor campaign resulted in a $3 million, one-year contract with Chicago. Continue to Article

April 07, 2016 2:34:am EST

It's starting to sink in,'' Span said. Span's parents, Stanley and Wanda Wilson, are traveling from Tampa, Florida, to be in the stands for their son's home opener with the Giants on Thursday against the three-time defending division champion and rival Los Angeles Dodgers. All of us are lucky to get an opportunity to have that as our home ballpark,'' Span said. Continue to Article

April 07, 2016 2:12:am EST

It's starting to sink in,'' Span said. Span's parents, Stanley and Wanda Wilson, are traveling from Tampa, Florida, to be in the stands for their son's home opener with the Giants on Thursday against the three-time defending division champion and rival Los Angeles Dodgers. All of us are lucky to get an opportunity to have that as our home ballpark,'' Span said. Continue to Article

April 07, 2016 2:12:am EST